Jet-propelled device



April 29, 1952 H. K. ENm-cor'r JET-PROPELLED DEVICE Filed March 7, 1949 num r/, r

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,rw E Nm. @N @I l \\Ul Pm ma Nd Ab; QH @d Hw ltented' Apr. 29, 194527" Homerln; Edieomelevelaiiu; ohiu, assigiirtd Homer K. Endicott Enterprises, Cleveland,

Ohio,` a partnership gesteente 'a 7, igisfsrarne; sittin' y This inventlon'relates to jet-"propelled devices andin particular to rockets. The embodiment which will be disclosed asillustr'ative ofthe 'invention pertains to a toy rocket in combination with af launching device.

vIt is a genral object'of this invention to proivide" adevice adapted to be propelled by an eX- pandinggas'under pressure andhav'inga quickly rele'asable valve means that permits Vof Aits'ready 'application to'. arocket,4 car,V airplane or boat.;

It is a further object to provide an elongated 'chamber for containing high pressure gassuch as carbon dioxide. A related object resides in the provision of a detachable end portion permitting ready insertion of a charge material in Athe form of solidV carbon dioxide.

Another object is to providea rocket type toy of relatively large gas capacity in which the ani'ou'nt'o charge may bevaried as desired. It willybe understood thatthisoiers considerable improvement and advantage, over, the present sealed flasks which are connected to various toys for.' propelling purposes,

The Vprovision vof; an elongated chamber having a readily: detachable but effectively Asealing nose 'end portion and simple eiiicient valve means for an axial bore in a rea-r. end portion satis'es ane other object of theinvention'.` l

lt is also a specific object' of the invention to provide a launching device adapted toen'gage an end portion of the rocket, to guide the rocket; in its initial movement, and to maintainthe. valve ine'ans closed position until eleas'e is desired.

Otheradditional features of improvement re-" verselv of the tail end .portion to either holdthe valvenea'n's in closed position or to permit .its 'releaseand discharge o'f pressure gas iilhe'n'de` tired. f

It is a further and general object of this `ir= vention to provide aljetprpelled device that is inexpensive to manufacture', simple in construe-- tion, and easy to use.

'Il'lese and other'ieatures of improvement vvill b'fully understood from theT following' detailed desciptionof a preferred embodiment ofthe'in vetion, andf'several nodiiicatiois thereof, taken in connection vwith `the accorrpanvingv drawings in which Fig: 1 is a longitudinal section of the' device ofthis invention embodied as a toy rocket and showing details 'of the' launching and valve meansz' Figi 21S `a'isimilar longitudinal section oithe' rocketo Fig-z' l with the launching means di fao tacld and the valve meansV in'anopen or. re leased position for discharge of pressure gas;

Eig. 3 is cross' sectional 'vi'w taken on line 3=`t3 'of Fig. Y1 and showing a part of the valve means; v Fig. 4 is a sideelevationalgview 'partlylseetioned to 'show the tail endpart oa modiedform 'Lof -rooket, the valve-retainingmeans and cooperating launching means; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section show ingl the tailend Vpart oifagmodied form of roeketand' valve holding and releasing means.-

While for purposes of; illustratiemthe princi-V ples ofthisuinventionhave heengernbodied ina toy. rocken it Wi1; 1 b e moderato@cithat.the.. invent tion'is applicable to i ir; land, .Water andlcomr be 'provided with sutblegandgiweebiepel ai?? Shown. as ,beihe censtruied gt-Statham mn. Oriani othr material of, s gfientttengih if? withstand-` gas pressures vof th "demof'ns-everal huhdrsipegedS per S cludes an elongate A drial shape'andrpr an nd'plug or cap, l5. The .end :can 1 5; isiforrned with a circular recess IB; aroundits outer periph? eyand has, a small longitudinal bore l1 extend: ing therethrough and along the longitudinal axis of the rocket. Centrally supported in the casing I is a tube I8 forming an enlarged continuation of the bore I1 and having a fiared end I9 which is clamped between the adjacent part of cap I5 and end member I2. The forward end of the tube I8 extends well forward into the casing I and is closed by a solid end piece 20 having a supporting spider with legs 2I integrally joined to the casing I.

Between the legs 2I there are a plurality of lateral ports 22 connected with a central bore 23 having a conical opening into the tube I8. The tube I 8 and the ported end piece 20 provide partitioning means separating the gas storing space of the casing I from the axial bore I1 in the tail portion I5. This partition means also includes the valve seat formation which the conical inner end opening of the bore 23 provid-es.

Fluid communication between the gas space of the casing I and the interior of the tube I8 is controlled by a valve plunger 24 slidably mounted within said tube for movement between the closed and discharge positions illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. The valve plunger has a nose portion 25 with a tapered end formed for complemental seating on the conical opening of the bore 23. Rearwardly of the nose portion, the valve plunger 24 is formed with an intermediate piston section II which snugly fits and provides adequate sliding bearing for guiding the movement of the valve plunger Within the tube I8. The forward end of the valve plunger is formed also with a plurality of lateral ports 2'2 positioned a short distance rearwardly of the part which seats on and closes the bore 23. These peripheral ports or openings 25 communicate with a central bore 26 extending therefrom to the rearward end of the valve plunger. Besides guiding the valve plunger, the cylindrical tubular formation II acts also to seal against rearward gas discharge other than through the ports 22 and bore 26. The rearwardly projecting stern of the valve plunger 24 is of reduced diameter and only slightly smaller than the axial bore I1 with which it has a sliding t. When the piston part Il of the valve plunger I8 is stopped by abutment with the adjacent surface of the end cap I5, the tubular reduced stem will project a. short distance beyond the tail end of the rocket so as to discharge the gas freely to the atmosphere. In this manner, the valve plunger 24 moves between the valve closing position of Fig. 1 and the 'gas discharging and propelling position of Fig. 2, but is prevented from separation from the rocket R.

Fig. 1r illustrates also a launching mechanism 5 which is assembled with the rocket R and detachably connected therewith. The launching mechanism 5 retains the valve plunger 24 in its seated or closed position by means of a rod portion 21 adapted to extend through bore I1 with a close sliding fit and engage the rear end of the valve plunger. The inner end of the rod portion 21 isv shaped to interfit with and close the rear end of bore 26 so that even if leakage occurs through the valve seat bore 23 the escape of gas will be prevented. The rod portion 21 has a threaded section 28 engaging a nut 29 spaced a short distance from the outer end of the rear end cap I5. Pivotally mounted at 3U on outer extensions of the nut 29 are a number of lever arms 3| having forward finger portions 32 which engage the recess I6 of the tail end plug or cap I5. The rear ends of said levers 3I rest on a locking sleeve 33 that is slidably mounted 4 on the rearward end 34 of the rod 21. The outermost end 34 of the rod portion 21 may be fixedly secured to any suitable base for launching of the rocket R.

In the operation of the rocket device R of Figs. 1 and 2, the pressure gas space within the casing I is first filled by disconnecting the slot and pin connections 1 and removing the nosepiece 2 and sealing assembly 4. This space is then loaded with a desired amount of solid carbon dioxide or any other material that will evaporate to build up a pressure of the order of 700 to 800 pounds per square inch. The forward tapered end piece 20 with its lateral ports 22 and spider supporting legs 2I permit the solid material to be inserted within the casing I without entering the launching tube I8 or being materially obstructed. Either before or immediately after loading, and replacing the nosepiece 2, the rod portion 21 is inserted in the bore I1 and moved inwardly against the valve plunger 24 until the tapered nose of the latter is firmly seated in the conical opening of the bore 23. The finger portions 32 are then engaged in the exterior recess I6 and the sleeve or ring 33 is slid under the rear ends of the levers 3I, thereby forcing the fingers 32 into gripping engagement. The adjusting nut 29 is then rotated slightly in a direction to further seat the rod portion 21 and valv-e plunger 24, thus producing avery tight and effective high pressure gas seal.

After suffi-cient time has elapsed for the solid carbon dioxide or other evaporating material to become gaseous and build up a high internal pressure, the rocket R is ready for launching. This is accomplished simply and safely by sliding the sleeve or locking ring 33 out from under the engaged parts of the lever arms 3I. A wire or cord may be attached to the ring 33 to facilitate the release. The removal of the ring 33 allows the arms to pivot at points 3B and the finger por'- tions 32 to separate from the recess formation I6. The contained high pressure gas then quickly expands and reacts against the valve plunger 24 and rod portion 21 causing the rocket R to be propelled slowly at first while the rod portion 21 is sliding out of the tube I8 and rear end bore I1. When the rocket R is entirely free of the rod portion 21, the expanding gas may then escape freely through the rear end of the valve plunger bore 26 so that the device will be propelledwith maximum force.

Although this invention has' been described principally as a toy rocket or other jet-propelled device, it is obviously adaptable to other purposes. As a rocket it can be used for scientific investigation, in which event the nosepiece 2 having a space P can be equipped with a camera, signal flares and a variety of recording devices. For such uses the nose space P may be provided with a parachute releasable under the action of gravity or a timing mechanism to lower the rocket safely to earth. f t

Figs. 4 and 5 show two modifications Aof the valve means and launching mechanism-for the rocket R illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. As these modications relate only to the tail end portion of the rocket it will be rnecessary only to describe the parts which have been changed or rearranged.

Fig. 4 illustrates modications which are particularly suitable for use with a wheeled toy or boat, although they may be used also with an airborne toy. In this embodiment, the tapered end member I2a is formed to include the axial bore I1a and has 'a tapered or conical opening 23a pro- -vidln'gavalveseat formation at the rearward end offthat' boreand terminating in an enlarged bore and is retained as 'part of the propelled device by meanSihl-uding an end Cap id-havillg. threaded Vcs'onnection lila with the tailpiece member' 12a.

Thererid cap |a is closed by anapertur'ed rear end plate' '64 'and i-s-providedwth a spaced inner `apertnredV plate llpthe apertures of whichplats forma nal continuation of the bore means llo, 18d 'and IECA-*The arrangement of the plates M. and 46 is VsuchV as to provide a housing or race- 'vi/ay.` for Svalveeretaining' balls 35 having a diam- 'eter vapproximately equal to the spacing between the plates. The. housing thus provided for the balls 35 Vpermits ltheir movement iromf inner posi'- tions sshown-obstruoting the' axial discharge A'bore to outer positions which free thatfbore and ypermit unseating of the valve lplunger Ztl-a.

A centrally apertured retaining member 33a is 'frictionally engaged with therearwardend of the cap llalfor preventing outward movement of the balls 35 (which are of hardened metal) and release of the valve plunger 2do from the seated position of Fig'. 4.l The retaining member 33a is shownfin both'full and dotted line positions and is formed with forwardly projecting prongs or lugsf3`l 'which pass complementally through the Japertures' or slots inthe end plate i4 and cap l5a to a position between the balls 35 .and the lsidewall of vsaid cap, thus vblocking outward movement ofthe ballsSE'in their housing space. The

outer portion of the retaining member wis provided with radially projecting lugs-3S `to facilitate its. detachment from cap Ita.4 A special hand type. launching mechanism and extracting tool 5a may be used to move member 33d to Aits dotted line Vposition releasing balls 35 and valve plunger 24a. The hand tool 5e has a tubular casing 3. provided with curved grips 33 on one end and vspring ngers El on the other. The ngers Llil have 'suitable apertures or recesses 62 arranged to t over the lugs 3%. Extending through the casing 38 is a'rod 21o pointed at one end to fit into the end of the stem of valve 24a. The other end ofthe rod 21a is provided with a knob il i, adapted toflt into the palm of the hand.l

Inoperation, the stem 21a is pushed into' the cuter end of the interrupted bore i811 until it seats in the rear end of the valve plunger 25a.. At the same time the spring fingers 49 are snapped over and into engagement with the lugs 36. Then, by placing the knob il in the palm of the hand and hooking the iingers around the grips 39, the latter may be moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. The retaining member 33a will thereby be Withdrawn to its dotted line position. The rocket device is held in the other hand or otherwise clamped during this operation. Finally, rod 21o, is removed and the balls 35 are free to move outwardly into the space previously occupied by the prongs 3l of retaining member 33a. The valve plunger 24a is immediately unseated by gas pressure and moves into the outer end of bore |8a.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the means for releasably securing the valve means of Fig. 4. It is to be understood that the construction and arrangement are the same as Fig. 4 except for the substitution of pivoted levers 50 for the retaining balls 35, and the changes in structure of the threadedly connected end cap b required by elimination of the pronged retaining member 33a. Each lever 50 is pivotally connected inter- Aoutererrd of the tubular stem 'portion of the v Vthe vborev llo whenvth'e arm portion H54- et the other' end engagesv `thecap 15b inthe angular "relation shown. The end oi valvel plunger 2lb `is freedby rotation ofthe levers 59,- agair'ist' the -ns'rneacan be used. The up of rod 21a will ii'ga'ge in the end 4of 'valveplunger' Nb and the llever ends 4555 will -look into the apertures 42 'of spring angers it. eem hands caribe-fumato hold the rod 2id and plunger' 24o in engagement "aft'eif'the end of valveplungei Eolias been freed.

While'this invention has been Vdescribed in ditailV with respect to specific embodiments, those slcilled in the art will recognize that 4rlany changes ycan be made-'in the construction *and arrangement of parts without departing from'the principles of the'invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

Y Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as novel and desire to secure by lilett'ers Patent of the United Statesfis: v

' 1; A rocket-type device comprising ari-"elongated cylindrical member iormed with a vhollow space adapted to contain a high pressure gas charge, said elongated member including' ande tachable nosepiece closing one endY ofthe hollow space, and a tailpiece having axial bore means; a valve plunger reciprocable in said cylindrical member and having a reduced forward endpar't, a rearwardly fopening tubular stem portion ttirg and slidable in said axial boremeans, anda lateral port in open communication with saidtubular stem portion and the outside of said' reduced end part; a valve seat formation within and irtegralwith said elongated member providinga forward abutment for said reduced forwarded part and including a portion blocking* gas'fl'ovv from the charge gas space to said lateral p'oit when the reduced forward end part isl seatedin the abutment; and releasing means including "la member relatively movable into and out ofthe axial bore means of the tailpiece to engage the plunger to hold the reduced forward endY part seated in the abutment of said valve seat formation.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the releasing means comprises a plurality of balls mounted in the rear end of the tailpiece for movement transversely of the axial bore means to engage theV outer end of the tubular stem portion of the valve plunger; and a retaining member removably extended between the balls and the adjacent wall of the tailpiece to block movement of the balls away from the tubular stem portion.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the releasing means comprises a plurality of levers pivoted intermediate their ends to the tailpiece, each of said levers having a circular segment arranged to project across the axial bore means and engage the outer end of the tubular stem portion, and an arm portion arranged to abut the end of the tailpiece when the tubular portion is thus engaged.

4. A rocket-type toy comprising an elongated tubular casing with a nose portion on one end and a tail portion with a central longitudinal bore on the other end; a tube within the casing forming an enlarged cntinuation of the bore of the tail portion, said tube including an end portion closing the forward end thereof and formed with a lateral port and a communicating blind bore portion opening into the tube; a valve plunger reciprocable in the tube and having a reduced forward part shaped to engage and close said bore portion, said plunger being rearwardly formed with a longitudinally bored end portion fitting --and slidable in the longitudinal bore of the tail portion. a lateral port communicating with the front end of the plunger bore, and an intermediate tubular piston formation engageable with the tail portion; and a rod removably extended into the bore of the tail portion and the tube continuation and having its inner end shaped to seat on and close the rear end of the valve plunger bore when the forward end portion of the tube is closed by the forward part of the valve plunger.

5. A rocket-type toy comprising an elongated tubular casing having a nosepiece on one end and a tailpiece with a central longitudinal bore on the other end; a launching tube extending within the casing as an enlarged continuation of the tailpiece bore, said launching tube including an end portion closing the forward end thereof and formed with a lateralport Iand a communicating bore portion connecting the interior space of the casing with the inside of the launching tube; a valve plunger reciprocable in the launching tube and having a reduced forward part shaped to engage and close said bore portion, said plunger being formed rearwardly with a stem portion fitting and slidablein the longitudinal bore of the tailpiece, a blind vbore open at the rear end of the stem portion and extending to the forward .portion of the plunger, a lateral port communieating with the front end of the blind bore, Iand an intermediate piston formation rearward of the lateral port of the blind bore and engageable with the tailpiece when the valve plunger moves rearwardly in said tube; a rod removably extend- `ed into the bore off` the tailpiece and` into the launching tube, said rod having its inner end shaped to seat on and close the rear endof the valve plunger stemwhen the forward end. portion of the tube is closedby the forward pai-'t of the valve plunger; andquick-release means detachably engaging the outside of the tailpiece for securing the rod seatedon the valve plunger within the tube.

6. A- rocket-type toy comprising an elongated -tubular casing having a nosepiece on one end and a tailpiece formed with a circumferential recess and a central longitudinal bore on the other end; a launching tube extending within the casing as an enlarged continuation of the ta'ilpiece bore, said launching tube including an end portion closing the forward end thereof and formed with a lateral port and Ia communicating bore portion connecting the interior space of the casing with the inside of the launching tube; a valve plunger reciprocable in the launching tube and having its forward part reduced and shaped to engage and close said bore portion, said plunger being formed also with a stem portion fitting and slidable in the longitudinal bore of the tailpiece, a blind bore open at the rear end of the stem portion and extending to the forward portion of the plunger. 'a lateral port communicating with the front end of the blind bore, and an intermediate piston formation rearward of the lateral port of the blind bore and engageable with the tailpiece when the valve plunger moves rearwardly in said tube; a rod removably extended into the bore of the tailpiece and into the launching tube, said rod having its inner end shaped to seat on and close the rear end of the valve plunger stern when the forward end portion of the tube is closed by the forward part of the valve plunger; a plurality of locking levers pivotally connected intermediate their ends to opposite sides of the outwardly projecting portion of the rod, said levers each being formed on its forward end with a finger portion engaging the recess of the tailpiece; and sleeve means slidable on the outwardly projecting portion of the rod and engageable with the rear ends of said levers to hold the :finger portions thereof removably in said recess.

HOMER K. ENDICOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

